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Herb Benham

Columnist

Herb Benham has been at The Californian since 1987. He was born in Santa Barbara and grew up in Bakersfield. Benham graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1976. He and his wife have four children - Katie, Herbie, Sam and Thomas. The Benhams live downtown in a 100-year-old-plus house that needs constant work. He is the author of two books - "First Kisses and Other Miracles," and "Sitting on My Fat Wallet." Benham started by doing the tennis column for The Californian and then 20 years ago became the feature columnist for the paper. He also teaches a writing class at Bakersfield College called, "How to write better, or at least less worse."

The body of a large paddle-tailed rodent was found early Tuesday in the traffic lanes of southbound Mohawk Street north of Truxtun Avenue, suggesting Bakersfield's fabled bike path beaver -- scourge of local saplings -- may have died.

The lush grasses and sweeps of wildflowers cloak much of the damage to the small canyon in a blanket of ephemeral green. But Ellen Cypher and Erin Tennant can see it as they walk along a sandy route that has been churned into the bottom of the wash by motorcyclists and quad riders.

Californian columnist Lois Henry's discussion about fireworks Wednesday on "First Look with Scott Cox" was as explosive as a firework itself. She didn't hold anything back as she described the Kern County Supervisor's decision Tuesday to continue allowing Piccolos and ground flowers to be sold in...